Tinubu Yet to Decide 2027 Running Mate — Presidency
WafricNews - June 20, 2025
The Presidency has dismissed growing rumours suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling such reports “unfounded” and “premature.”
The Presidency has dismissed growing rumours suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling such reports “unfounded” and “premature.”
In a firm response to recent speculations about a rift between the two top officeholders, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, clarified that no decision has been made regarding Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 elections.
“Once INEC releases the timetable, the party convention will hold, and if the president is nominated again, he will choose his running mate,” Onanuga said in an interview, referring to the APC’s internal processes expected in 2026.
No Rift, No Replacement
Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima remain united, rubbishing reports that hint at internal tensions within the presidency.
“There’s no conflict between them. It’s a non-issue,” he stated plainly.
According to the presidency, talk of 2027 is not only premature but also procedurally inaccurate, as the party must first nominate a presidential candidate before the issue of a running mate can be discussed.
Tinubu’s History as Governor Not Relevant Here
Addressing criticism and parallels drawn from Tinubu’s days as Lagos State governor—where he notably replaced two deputy governors—Onanuga urged Nigerians not to make false assumptions based on history.
“It’s wrong to say he has a pattern of discarding deputies. Those were political decisions shaped by specific circumstances at the time,” he explained.
The presidency insists that every political era comes with unique dynamics, and past governance decisions should not be taken as predictive of future moves.
APC Convention to Set the Stage
All eyes are now on the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention expected in 2026, which will officially determine whether Tinubu seeks re-election and who will join him on the ticket — if he does.
Until then, the presidency maintains that any assumptions about 2027 running mate choices are nothing more than political guesswork.
WafricNews Analysis: A Strategy of Silence or a Sign of Stability?
As the political temperature slowly rises ahead of 2027, Tinubu’s camp appears focused on projecting continuity and calm. The president’s media team is clearly working to suppress early rumblings of discord while reminding the public that Nigeria’s political game plays out in phases — and this is not yet the season for running mate debates.
For now, Kashim Shettima remains firmly in the seat, and all official signals point to a stable presidency, at least on the surface.
By WafricNews Desk.
Comment
To post a comment, you have to login first
LoginNo Comments Yet...